Golfer&#39;s training device



Dec. 15, 1959 A. BROWN 2,917,312

cowsa's TRAINING DEVICE.

Filed Nov. 28, 1958 l2 1a l l Q2 INVENTOR.

3 ANDREW BROWN Fla. 3

BY V I l g 1 as 36 32' 25 33 ATTORNEY United States Patent GOLFERS TRAINING DEVICE Andrew Brown, Erie, Pa.

Application November 28, 1958, Serial No. 776,836

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-479) This invention relatesto amusement and training devices and, .more particularly, to a practise device for golfers,

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means by which golf minded persons of all ages may practise golfand otherwise engage in the pleasant game used in the living room of. a home or any other suitable location.

The device provides a wide approach to the cup which makes itpossible to play the ball from different angles equal to a great-degree to the various conditions found on the putting green of a golf course. This will appeal to serious-minded golfers who wantto improve their game and want to practise during off seasons.

In. carrying out the improvement disclosed herein, the player can practise the important five or six foot putt and if the ball fails to go into the cup, the ball will return to the point where it originated. Therefore, the ball will be available for the next try without the player having to change his position. The ball return allows a lot of practise developed in a short time and with a minimum amount of movement or effort. The ball return has an especial appeal to the aged, infirmed, or convalescent since it can be played with little or no exertion.

The inclined plane which provides the playing surface has a hinged member supported thereunder so that the golfer playing the game can tilt the device rearwardly and thereby release the ball and allow it to roll to the point of origin.

Other objects of the invention as well as desirable features are that the person playing the game need not be a golfer, the game provides home entertainment, mild exercise, is fascinating, and can be played by any member of the family. Also, a game is provided which is different in the way of amusement and fun than any other available.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which takes up comparatively little room for storage and is readily portable from an alter nate indoor to an outdoor position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf training device which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, sturdy and inexpensive, and which readily lends itself to eflicient mass production.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, portions, and

ice

minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention; V

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the device resting on a level surface with a golf ball trapped therein; and

Fig. 3' is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 2 activated to release the golf ball.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, a golf .device 10 is shown having an angular body 11, guard rails 12, and a rubber pad 13 attached to an upper surface 14 of the angular body 11. The body 11 may be made of a sheet of rigid material such as fiberboard.

Juxtaposed to inner surfaces 15 and 16 of the guard rails 12 are elongated slots 17 and 18. .The slots 17 and 18 diminish in width at lower ends 19 and 20; that is, they converge from upper distal ends 21 and 22 of the slots 17 and 18, respectively. The slots 17 and 18 are disposed in an arc of a circle having its center forward of and below a hole 24. The width of the slots 17 and 18 at the upper ends 21 and 22 is somewhat narrower than the diameter of a golf ball. 23 so that the ball 23 cannot pass through the slots 17 and 18. Therefore, the slots 17 and 18 form, in effect a hazard and a ball return to bring the ball 23 back to the player and to keep the ball 23 out of the hole 24 unless properly and accurately directed.

In the upper and center section of the golf device 10 is the hole 24 or what the artmore commonly refers to as a cup and which will hereafter be referred to as such. The cup 24 is larger in diameter than the golf ball 23 and the golf ball 23 enters the cup 24 and is by the user of the golf device 10.-

The slots 17 and 18receive and return the golf ball 23 to the player when the ball 23 is inaccurately struck; that is, the ball 23 will roll up and back down the slots 17 and 18. A forward edge 25 of the angular body 11 is tapered at 26 on an underside 27 of the angular body 11 to cause the surface 14 to converge flush with an ap proach surface 28 which may be the floor of a room in a home.

A leg 30 is attached to the underside 27 of the body 11 adjacent an upper end 29. The leg 30 is supported perpendicular to the approach surface 28 and attached to the body 11 at 31 when the body 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby determining the proper upward slope of the angular body 11 from the forward edge 25 to the upper end 29. An underside 32 of the leg 30 is supported by two hemispherical rubber mounts 33 disposed at either end of the underside 32 of the leg 30. The rubber mounts 33 eliminate the shifting or sliding of the golf device 10 when activated to release the golf ball 23 from its trapped position in the cup 24.

Screwed to an inner surface 34 of the leg 30 is a hinge 35. Fastened to the hinge 35 is a platform 36 shown as isosceles triangular shaped and fastened to the hinge 35 on a short side 37 of the platform 36. The platform 36 could be rectangular in shape or any other suitable shape. When the golf device 10 is in an inactivated position, the platform 36 is in a closed position as disclosed in Fig. 2. The platform 36 has guard rails 38 which rim the outer edges of the platform 36 from a member 39 to a corresponding point in the other side or the platform 36. The guard rails 38 rise perpendicularly from a top surface 40 of the platform 36 anddiminish at 39. The guard rails 12 could be in the form of a wire held to the body 11.

When the body 11 of the golf device 10 is swung up- 3 a ward to the position shown in Fig. 3, the body 11 swings upwardly and the hinge 35 allows the platform 36 to remain as shown and the golf ball 23 rolls down the platform 36. The guardrails 3.8, guide the golf ball 23 through an opening 41. inthe lower side. of the platform 36 and its momentum carries it over the floor of the room or surface 28 back to the user of the golf. device, 10.;

The golf device. can. be. activated a number of difierent ways, all of which consist of applying pressure.

to the rubber. pad 13. and tilting downwardly the upper end 29 of the. angular body 11, thus swinging the body 11 upwardly.

The. foregoing specification sets.v forth; the. invention in its preferred practical formsbut the. structure. shown is capable of modificationwithin; a range of equivalents without. departing from theinvention. which; is to be understood. is broadly novel asis commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments, of the invention. in which any ex.- clusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A training device of the class described comprising a body member made of a rigid sheet of material, a leg attached to the lower side of said body member adjacent one edge and. adapted to support saidbody member in angular relation relative to a supporting surface, a central hole in said body member, a slot in saidbody member on each side of said hole curving from the front edge upwardly and around said hole to partially surround. said hole, and a rail attached to said body member and extending around the outsideof said slots on the outer and upper sides, providing an enclosure for said slots and said hole open at the front, said slots and said railbeing disposed in the form of an arc. of. a circle with. its, center below and ahead of saidhole, said slots formingguides to keep a ballout of said hole.

2. The device recited in claim 1 whereinsaid slots are wider at theupper endsthan their lower ends.

3. A training device of the class described, comprising a body made of a rigid sheet ofrnaterial, a. leg attached to the lower. sideof said. body adjacent one edge 4 and adapted to support said body in angular relation relative to a supporting surface, a central hole in said body, a slot in said body on each side of said hole curving from the front edge upwardly and around said hole to partially surround said hole, a rail attached to said body and extending around the outside of said slots on the outer and upper sides providing an enclosure for said slots and said hole open at the front, said slots and said rail being disposed in the form of an arc of a circle with the center below and ahead of said hole, said slots forming guides to keep a ball out of said hole, and a platform hingedly connected to said leg, said platform underlying said hole and adapted to receive a ball dropped through said hole, said platform adapted to swing upwardly on said leg to allow a ball to roll forward from said platform.

4. The device recited in claim 3 wherein said platform istriangular. in shape and has a guard rail extendingupwardly therefrom, and an opening is provided. in said guard rail at the front to allow a ball to roll therefrom.

5. The device recited in claim 4 wherein said.platform is hinged to said leg at a point spaced. forward from said leg whereby one end of said platform is swung.

upwardly when said body'is tilted up.

6. A golf training device comprising a body made of a sheet. of material, a leg attached to one side; of said body and extending. downwardly and forwardly therefrom,. a central opening in said body forming a cup,v a slot in said. body curving upwardly and rearwardly from each. forward corner and extending upwardly to aposition above said cup, said slots being wider. atithe upper ends than at the lower ends, and a rail extending along,

the outer boundary of said slots.

References Cited in the file of'this. patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,182,480. Havens Mayv 9, 191.6, 1,558,766 Smith- Oct. 27, 1925 1,689,476 Brumder Oct; 30, 1928" 1,798,140 Byers Mar. 31, 1931,

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